Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-04
DAILY HERALD.
SUICIDE AT SEA.

SUICIDE AT SEA.
uohn Lens, = Coal-Passcr, Jumps
Inte che Gulf.
Immediately upon the arrival of
the Mallory steamship, San Marcos,
Yesterday morning at New York
wharf, the report spread that one Of
her coal-passers had jumped over
hoard and drowned in the gulf, while
the vessel was on her way to Calves
ton.
A Nous reporter shortly after saw
Chief Engineer Haskell, of the San
Marcos, who confirmed the report,
and said that the mans name was
John Lenz, and that he was a
German.
The chief engineer then gave the
account of the tragedy to
the Nescs reporter.
1--WE left New York last Friday,
having on board John Lenz, who had
shipped as coal-passer, and from the
moment 1 noticed his actions I saw
that something was wrong with him.
He went about his work in kind OF
spiritless way, and seldom had any
thing to say. Sometimes 1 would
find him brooding by himself, ap-
parently over some deep trouble. He
continued this eccentric course Of
conduct from day to day. He was
melancholy and detected, and ap-
peared to be thoroughly miserable.
Finally he grew so depressed in spirit
that it was with considerable diff
Guilty that he was made to work, and
in many instances refused to do any
work whatever, and would crouch
down in Q corner and brood, with his
chin between his knees. His singular
conduct had become a subject Of
much comment among the crew OF
the engine room, and few of his
friends among them sought him for
an explanation. He was invariably
deaf to appeals of this character,
however, and remained silent and
inorose. Before we entered the gull
he frightened up somewhat, but the
change in his manner was merely
ephemeral, and the next day he sank
down again into his old former self.
At times he gave way to some sim
gular freaks. While at his work he
would suddenly throw up his hands
to his head and sink down in a heap
upon the floor, apparently under the
influence Of some great and inexplica-
BILE emotion. So frequently did he
give vent to these manifestations that
l began to seriously doubt his sanity,
AS everything tended to excite such a
suspicion. At last we were we'll on
our way in the gulf, and he still re-
manned in the same melancholy
mood. Nothing could divert his
thoughts into another channel, and
whatever it was that he was grievine
over he clung to it tenaciously
utterly refusing the sympathy of his
friends. As he had so persistently
declined to do any work on various
occasions, determined to. speak te
him. On Tuesday morning, October
18th. l was told by partner of LEM
that Lenz had gone to the forward
port, and that he refused he come
down and attend to his duties in the
engine-room. l then went after him
and saw that he was sitting in the
forward port, as reported to me.
stepped up toward him, but before
could say word he quickly turned
and jumped headlong out of the por
into the water. / Immediately gavt
the cry of imam jumped overheard,
and ran quickly into the engine-room
reversed the engines and had th'
vessel stopped. A boat was thel
lowered with as much speed as posi-
BILE, and the water explored for quit,
a distance around the vessel. Blu
not the slightest trace of the unfortu
nate man could he found. He wa
never seen again after passing by the
vessel. The day before this, as
subsequently learned he had delivered
: his pocketbook to his partner, t.
whom he said that he had no further
use for it, as he intended to drowr
himself. He also told his partner
that he had the sum of 5000 in banl
in Germany, but the papers in his
pocketbook being all written in thu
German language | could not see an,
evidence of the truth of such state
ment. Lenz had three discf argos
however, in his pocketbook from tn,
Hamburg Steamship Company
which indicates that he was employed
on steamships before shipping on tn
San Marcos. Lenz was a man O
about 80 years of age, and appeared
to be a man of some education, ant
one who had seen better circum
stances. One Of his German friend
on board, coal-passer, said that Len
had been employed in a large dry
goods establishment in Berlin, Gel
many, some time before coming t
this country.
From all could learn there seem
to be but one theory to establish as t,
his motive for committing suicide
Several years ago he fell desperatel,
in love with beautiful young girl il
Brooklyn, and paid her constant at
tention for five or six years. Thougl
he was warm in his attentions to tn,
girl, however, he never married her
for what reason l am unable to say
At all events he failed in his suit, 70
the brother of Lenz proposed to thu
girl and was accepted. The marriage
followed shortly afterward, and it i
said that Lenz became a changed
man ever since. He became dejectet
and dispirited, and was very fond o
solitude. The brother who marriet
the girl carries on printing business
in Brooklyn, though L do not know
what his first name is. So it Woult
seem that the matter preyed on tn,
mind Of Lenz to such an extent tina
he resorted to suicide as surcease O
his sorrow, and if such was his in
tention he succeeded only too we'll
One Of the passengers on deck at tn,
time was the only person who saw
the last of Lenz when he jumped
overheard. The passenger heard th,
splash, and looking over the gunwal,
saw the unfortunate man as he swep
swiftly by the ship,and was swallowe,
by the water. The San Marcos ha,
left Tortugas for some time when tn,